T5 vs. VHO

[The Reefer91]

hi, i am planning a lighting sytem for a 55g LPS/softie tank. i may eventually want to keep SPS and a clam, so keep that inmind. my question is this. which one of these is better? VHO or T5? i can only spend about 300$ on lighting, so remember that also.

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2...de=OE&Product_Code=I4BX4VRK&Category_Code=ICR

i could porbably build a hanging box for the VHO

and T5
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&N=2004+113175

i would love to get the 216 nova because it can mount on tank, but i can't get the 400$ model. if you have any sites with T5 or VHO for around 300$, post it

thanks in advance

 

[TWallace]

I have that exact model of T5 (the 216 watt) on my 55g and love it. I don't think the 432 watt model would fit properly on a 55g anyway, due to the depth (front to back) of the fixture, assuming you have some stuff hanging on the back of tank. I have a HoB refugium and protein skimmer on mine and there's no way the 8 bulb 432 watt fixture would fit without hanging over the front of the tank.

Though that website doesn't mention it, the fixture actually has 4 power cords, not just the 2 it mentions. There's 1 cord for each pair of the 4 bulbs, so you can have timers turn your actinics on before your daylights. But there's also a separate cord for the fan and one for the lunar lights, so you can set those up with timers as well.

The only possible negative about this fixture is that the lunar lights are maybe a tad too bright, especially if you mount your fixture directly on top of the tank (not using the little brackets that lift them up off the tank a few inches). My fish don't seem to mind it though, they just go under the rocks to sleep.

I like this system a lot better than the VHO setup I had on an old tank. VHO bulbs are gigantic compared to T5, and thus block the reflector from pointing light into the tank as well as it could.

 

[The Reefer91]

so the T5 fixture is right for LPS? i may want to have a clam later on down the road. also, is T5 brighter per watt than VHO?

 

[hdyoung]

Does that T5 fixture have individual reflectors? I have read that T5 lights are better.... but only if each bulb has an individual reflector on it.

I have the Tek 6 bulb fixture on my 65 gallon. It's a bit more then 300 bucks though.

 

[The Reefer91]

where did you get it?

 

[The Reefer91]

bump

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6863876#post6863876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Reefer91
so the T5 fixture is right for LPS? i may want to have a clam later on down the road. also, is T5 brighter per watt than VHO?

Yes, significantly. Normal output fluorescents are the highest, followed by HO, followed by VHO. Most T5s are HO. Combine that with more efficient reflectors, and you have a much more efficient light.

 

[TWallace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864065#post6864065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hdyoung
Does that T5 fixture have individual reflectors? I have read that T5 lights are better.... but only if each bulb has an individual reflector on it.

Nope, it has one reflector for all 4 bulbs.

 

[The Reefer91]

hmm. would that still be enough for a clam? i could place the clam higher up.

TWallace, could i see a pic of your tank, if it's not too much trouble

 

[TWallace]

Mine is newly setup and only has one coral in it right now, a tiny colony of star polyps (which are doing great, but they aren't exactly light demanding like a crocea). I'm at work right now, so you'll have to make do with this image for now.

That was taken while I was acclimating my crabs and snails a couple days ago. I'll get you a better pic tonight with the lights in the normal position.

 

[The Reefer91]

sweet tank!!! is that a fuge in the backround of the tank? what type if so?

 

[The Reefer91]

bump. anyone think that the nova T-5 setup is a good one?

 

[TWallace]

Yep it's a fuge. AquaFuge 24" by CPR.

 

[The Reefer91]

cool, i will probably go with the small or medium, but still cool. also, neat rock structure.

 

[The Reefer91]

bump

 

[sreefs]

The nova IMO is not good! Look at reefgeek.com for sunlight supply tek lights you can get the 4 bulb 54 watt for about $240. and the 6 bulb for $310. I will tell you the 6 bulb tek light is a lot of light for a 55 probably most non sps will have to be on the bottom and some it will be to much. The 4 bulb would work good. The tek light has a reflector around each bulb very important for t5's. Hope this helps.
Pat

 

[TWallace]

As promised, here is a better pic of my tank with the lights in the normal position:

The little red blur at bottom left is this little fella:

The green blur at bottom towards the right is this cool ricordia I got from Live Rock and More. He's got great color.

 

[impur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864252#post6864252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Yes, significantly. Normal output fluorescents are the highest, followed by HO, followed by VHO. Most T5s are HO. Combine that with more efficient reflectors, and you have a much more efficient light.

I think you have this info backwards. Normal output flourescents (PC) would be the lowest output, followed by HO (high output), then VHO (very high output), with T5 giving you the most light.